Playdough!

 Hard at work!

Even Isaac got in on the playdough fun!

 This is not a mistake! Eli intentionally makes this face every time I ask him to smile.  

Why do I keep asking him???

 Smiley girl!

 Tweet!  Tweet!

Olivia's creations

I had penciled in today as a stay at home day on my calendar, so I decided it was the perfect day to try out some homemade playdough.  I doubled the recipe and the kids had plenty to make lots of fun creations.  Eli kept saying, "Mamma, this is BIG playdough!"  

I ran out of cream of tarter, so I tried a different recipe that called for lemon juice instead.  I could tell a big difference, so cream of tarter is now on my shopping list!

My Summer Bucket List

Today is the first "official" day of summer.  Our school summer vacation started several weeks ago, and it seems to be going by way too quickly!  We usually "tiptoe" back into school around the second or third week of July with one or two subjects, and then jump all the way in by August 1.


I got the idea of a "Summer Bucket List" from a blog that I read everyday, and I decided to jot one down as well.  There are several things I wanted to do before school starts, and if I am not more intentional, I am not going to get them done.  Some things are fun, others, I will just be happy they are done!  So, here goes --

For Me--

1.  Read lots of books—to myself, just for fun.

2.  Declutter the house from top to bottom—one room at a time.  I did some of this in May, but it needs it again!

3.  Arrange for piano lessons for the fall for Isaac, Bailey and Olivia 

4.  Organize my school stuff for the fall

5.  Continue painting the trim in our house—that we never noticed was not already painted when we bought the house.

6.  Organize my master bedroom closet.

7.  Go on a date with Mark.  We went out for our anniversary last week, and I am ready to go again!

For the Family--

1.  Go to the library every week.
2.  Go swimming twice a week as much as possible.

3.  Make more homemade popsicles with the kids several times—Olivia has been asking me about this one.  So far, we made two batches of “Old Fashioned Vanilla” that were yummy.

4.  Make a huge batch of playdough.

5. Make homemade ice cream.  Isaac has been requesting this one!

6.  Spend a morning washing the car—with lots of wet kids when we are done!

7.  Go geocaching!

8.  Go bowling.  I think a friend of ours is doing this for a birthday party, so this one should be easy!

9.  Go to Daylight Donuts for breakfast!

10.  Make homemade bubbles.

11.  Have a sewing day with the girls.

12.  Watch the city fireworks show on the 4th of July.

13.  Finish memorizing Psalm 1.

14.  Make sidewalk paint.

15.  Make banana splits!

16.  Go to a drive-in movie theater!  We did this last week!  It was a lot of fun!

17.  Find a creek to splash in.

18.  Go stargazing.

19. Have family devotions twice a week-- this one is hard in the summer!

20.  Go on a day trip to somewhere new!

I will check back in later to update how we are doing!

Our Field Trip to St. Louis

Five Families and Seventeen Children!

A great sign for these two wild men!

My Love and Me!

 Bailey, Olivia and three of their friends!

 Eli at the City Museum

 Part of the Johnson Crew at 630 feet

The view from the top!

Our Crew-- Eli is hiding behind me!

For the last three years, we have taken a big "homeschool field trip" with several other families.  The first year, we traveled to Houston and visited the Space Center and the beach.  The next year, we headed to Kansas City and spent a couple of days at Great Wolf Lodge and shopped at the American Girl Store (not our most educational trip!).  


This year, we decided to explore St. Louis for a long weekend.  Our itinerary included Grant's Farm, The St. Louis Zoo, The City Museum, and the Arch.  We also threw in a bunch of eating and swimming in the hotel pool.


We spent our first day at Grant's Farm and the zoo, with a picnic lunch thrown in the middle.  Both activities were free, except for parking, and they were a lot of fun!  The girls in the group enjoyed seeing the Clydesdale horses, and we all enjoyed looking at the animals and spending time with our friends.


The City Museum was heaven for kids, and a nightmare for mammas!  There were slides and stairs leading in every direction, and a LOT of people!  I asked for a map and was told that not having a map was part of the fun.  The kids had a blast, and I was happy to leave.  If we do it again, we will wait until my littlest one is quite a bit older!


We enjoyed our visit to the arch.  Mark took three of the children to the top, and I stayed below with Olivia and Eli.  We had studied Lewis and Clark last year, and it was neat to visit the museum under the arch.


Eli became fully potty trained right before we left home.  He had picked up the great habit of "pee-peeing in the grass" whenever he could.  I had been very patient with him in this area, because I was just thankful that number five was finally potty trained.  We were standing under the arch, in the beautiful grassy area.  I looked down to see Eli making his own little arch in front of lots of people.  I also saw my sweet husband running the other way.  That memory will probably be the first thing I think of whenever I see the arch! 


St. Louis was a great place to visit.  I am thankful for traveling friends!

Lizards or Blizzards?

We went to Dairy Queen to get ice cream for Father's Day.  I told the children they could each get a small Blizzard.  Eli said, "Momma, a small lizard would be gross!"  He soon learned that a Blizzard was far from gross!

Fun with Mamaw

We enjoyed our visit with Mark's mom while we were in Tennessee last month.  Isaac, Bailey and Olivia went up a few days ahead of the rest of us to spend some extra time with her.  They helped her with a yard sale (where they were given quite a few treasures) and enjoyed being spoiled a bit.

The rest of us traveled up on Saturday and had some good Mamaw bonding time.  We went to her church and enjoyed getting to see a part of her life that we do not typically get to see.  We spent part of Memorial Day at Warrior's Path State Park, which is a hit with the kids.  They have the best playground I have ever been to!

Mark got to spend an extra day to be with his mom while she had a heart catherization.  Praise God, everything came back OK.

I am thankful that we have Mamaw in our lives!  Since we live so far away, we truly treasure the time we get to spend with her!

Some Favorites--
Olivia-- the yard sale and spending time with family
Bailey-- the yard sale and the park
Mark-- being with my mom!
Anna Grace-- the park and going to Jason's Deli
Isaac--the yard sale and the park
Eli-- "I like to play at her house and go to the park.  I like to play with her tractors."

Smoky Mountain Adventure

We were blessed to be able to spend time visiting with our family in Tennessee last month.  My Dad (Grand-Bob) took us on a Smoky Mountain Adventure!  We packed up a lunch, complete with white bread (which is a treat around these parts) and headed to the hills!  After we ate, the children spent lots of time splashing in the water.  Grand Bob treated us to ice cream cones at Cade's Cove to make our adventure even sweeter.  I am thankful for time spent with family!  Grandparents are truly a blessing from the Lord!

Olivia!

 Olivia made her own cake!

 Shiny new skates!

Olivia turned eight last month!  She celebrated by inviting her friends to eat lunch and play.  The menu included chili, cheese and chips, followed by cake and ice cream sundaes. Olivia decorated the cake all by herself!


Olivia had been squeezing her feet into Bailey's old skates and making laps around the garage.  We surprised her with a  new pair that actually fit.  


We sure do love our sweet eight year old!  She is a beautiful gift from the Lord!

Author's Tea

Bailey was in a writing class at our homeschool co-op this year.  The girls worked on various projects throughout the year, leading up to writing their own books.  


To celebrate their hard work, they invited their dads to an Author's Tea.  The girls introduced themselves and told a little bit about their books.  Each dad then read their daughter's book to the audience.  Mark surprised Bailey by bringing her flowers.  Bailey was glowing by the end of the tea!


I am thankful to be in a co-op with other families that are willing to invest in my children.  I am also thankful for a husband who is willing to bring his daughter flowers!

Our Little Graduate

 Our Snaggle-Toothed Graduate

 Daddy handing Anna Grace her diploma

Old McDonald on the handbells!

Anna Grace is our newest Kindergarten graduate!  Five little graduates walked down the aisle at our co-op's graduation.  Mark had the privilege of interviewing the graduates and presenting diplomas.  He asked each one what they wanted to be when they grow up.  Anna Grace said, "I want to stay home and help my mommy."  That is just fine with me!  I am very proud of my big first grader!